Little Disasters (2025) s01e05 Episode Script

1
My daughter almost died
in front of me.
You need to stop getting in
the medical team's way.
I just need to get her
out of there.
ED: For God's sake,
get control of your drinking.
Are you having an affair
with Charlotte Hinman?
If you want me
to represent you alone,
know that this will be an act
of war against your marriage.
Things are likely to escalate
as a result of all three
of your children
now showing indicators
of abuse.
On the laptop,
check the search history.
CHARLOTTE: We need to ensure
that you maintain custody
of these children
if they go after Jess.
I'm saying this is serious.
JESS: Do you really
have to go to work?
I don't have a choice.
-[Betsey crying]
-You'll be okay. Oh
You'll be okay. You'll be okay.
[Betsey continues crying]
Boys, are you excited
to show off your baby sister?
BOTH: Yeah!
[Betsey continues crying]
CHILD: Mum, where's the butter?
Just a minute. I'm coming down.
[Betsey continues crying]
No! No!
Betsey. Betsey!
[Betsey continues crying]
I'm a bad mother.
A bad, bad mother.
[Betsey continues crying]
[♪♪]
[music fades]
[monitor beeping]
-You off?
-Yeah.
I hope you have a quiet one.
I'm gonna say goodnight
to Betsey.
Okay. See you.
[phone ringing]
Hello?
[monitor beeping]
Shit!
When did you last do
your rounds?
Ten, 11 minutes ago.
-Betsey was in her bed?
-Yes, of course.
-She should still be there.
-She's gone.
Look, we need to tell security.
-Call the police.
-No. Not yet. Not yet!
-Why not?
-Because she might
be with her mum.
She won't have gone far.
This is madness. That baby
is under police protection.
Please, Sheila,
just do what I say.
-Have you seen Mrs. Carrisford?
-No.
[breathing heavily]
Baby abduction. Notify security.
All staff
to man main exit doors.
Put me through to the police.
Make sure you've checked
the CCTV.
Jess!
[siren wailing]
[baby crying]
Jess.
Jess?
Jess. Jess, please.
Let's just talk.
Please talk to me.
Jess
They were gonna take her.
I'm going to protect her.
Yeah. No, I know you did.
I know you did.
But this is not
the way to do it. Please.
Betsey's condition
is still really serious, Jess.
And we can't monitor her
when she's out here.
We can't we can't help her
if she has another seizure.
We've got no oxygen or anything.
Please.
Jess, I know you wouldn't
want to hurt her.
[Betsey fussing]
It's just wait.
Just give me a minute.
Gimme a minute.
Please, Jess,
just open the door. Let's talk.
Unlock the door.
Okay.
Okay.
Please, I promise, I promise
I will take care of her.
I'm never gonna forgive you
for this.
Well, that's a shame.
I'm sorry you feel like that,
Jess, because
[Betsey crying]
..I believe you.
Jess, I know, I know
you didn't hurt Betsey.
Please.
I know. Come on.
I know. Come on. It's okay.
It's okay. There's a good girl.
Well done, Jess.
[Betsey continues crying]
It's okay, baby. It's okay.
OFFICER: Can you please step
out of the vehicle?
It's bedtime.
That's it. Come on. Night-night.
Sweet dreams.
DC RUSTIN: Stand up, please,
Mrs. Carrisford.
Jessica Carrisford,
I'm arresting you
for abducting a child in care.
You do not have to say anything,
but it may harm your defence
if you do not mention when
questioned
something which you later
rely on in court.
Anything you do say may
be given in evidence.
Be gentle with her.
I don't think Jess even knew
what she wanted to do
when she took Betsey.
I don't think she was thinking
that far ahead.
I
I think she believed
that just in that moment
..Betsey needed her more.
Charl, this can't be a repeat
of Friday.
You know what? You can't
actually kick me out tonight.
Remember? The safety plan.
I legally have to be here.
Bad luck!
Just don't tell Rustin
that you're sleeping over.
He's already convinced
we're having an affair.
What? The bar!
The copious amounts of alcohol.
I can see how he reached
that conclusion.
-Eddie.
-Hm?
Andrew, he's
a really wonderful man.
I mean, we don't even fight,
but he's not um
He's not
He's not you!
So, I don't know how you feel.
Okay?
But for me,
it's always been the same.
I can't bear
seeing you like this.
And so I'm just,
I'm going to say it.
I'm going to say it out loud,
and then it's just done, okay?
Yeah.
I'm in love with you.
I love you, Ed.
I always have.
And
I'm Yeah, I'm prepared
to leave Andrew for you.
Oh, Charlotte.
Oh, my God.
I'm I'm so sorry.
Charlotte.
You are my dear, dear friend.
I think the world of you.
But I do love Jess.
I'm going to do everything
I can to protect her
and be there for her.
I am sorry, but, you and I,
that this can't happen.
[phone ringing]
It's Liz. You should
LIZ: Ed?
-Yeah.
Jess has been arrested.
She tried to take Betsey.
-What?
-Baby's okay, though.
Oh, my God. Okay.
Jess just tried to abduct
Betsey.
-Ed?
-Go on. Where's Jess now?
All right. Thank you.
Thanks, Liz.
Hello?
Hello?
ROB: You're home then?
-Yeah. I want to see Connor.
-Oh.
Feeling guilty?
-No.
-He doesn't want to see you.
I need to ask him
about what happened today.
Has he told you anything?
-I don't want a bully for a son.
-Connor's not a bully.
You sure about that, are you?
Yeah.
Did you take money
out of my account?
-My card got declined today.
-Yeah, I did.
I needed to top up
the mortgage payment.
But I'll put some money
into your account later.
My phone's not working.
Well, I forgot to pay the bill.
Are things really that bad?
I don't know why you just
won't let me get a job.
Um
Doing what exactly?
Sorry, remind me what it is
that you're qualified to do.
-Where are you going? Come on.
-To see Connor.
Well, bad luck,
cos he's at my sister's, so
What, don't you believe me?
Andrew, what is going on?
How far did she get --
They won't even tell me
why they've arrested --
Ed, go home.
You're not doing anyone
any good here.
I'm not gonna leave!
I've just spoken to the duty
sergeant and they've told me
they're not going to
interview her tonight.
They're going to
they're going to keep her?
They can keep her for 24 hours.
Go be with your boys.
Yeah, all right.
JESS: Bad, bad mother.
[Betsey crying]
NURSE: Female, active labour,
39 weeks.
JESS: What's happening?
NURSE: Baby is stuck.
[Jess screaming]
NURSE: Push now!
We need to get her out.
JESS: Is she dead?
NURSE: Placenta won't detach.
She's bleeding out.
[flatline tone]
-[door opening]
ANDREW: Jess.
Oh, thank God.
-Oh, Andrew.
-How are you?
I brought you some food
and a proper coffee.
Thank you.
Now, if you agree
to instruct me,
I will act as your legal
representative today.
Thank you.
Her lawyer's arrived.
So, current timeline
we are working to.
Friday after school,
Jess is at home alone
with their two youngest.
She claims that Betsey slips,
bumps her head on the fridge.
But SOCO found no DNA evidence
backing this up.
Their eldest, Kit, arrives home
at 6:45 from football.
And Jill Baker,
the parent who dropped Kit off,
hears the baby crying
from the driveway.
But Jess claims that she puts
the kids to bed as normal.
She turns in herself
around nine.
Ed gets home at ten, inebriated,
finds the baby in distress.
-Raises the alarm.
-Anything else?
I asked Financial Investigations
to expand their check.
Look at the time
of that transaction.
-Whose card was used?
-Jessica Carrisford.
Have we sent a PCSO
to pull CCTV?
Yeah. For now, we've got to
focus on this interview.
What are you thinking?
I think the Carrisfords
lived a very charmed life
until child number three.
That's when everything
started to fall apart.
Are we looking at
a violent mother
who hurt her child on purpose?
Or a desperate woman
who accidentally lost control?
Yeah, I mean, either way,
she put her sick child
at serious risk
by snatching her
from ICU last night.
-Hmm. Oh, last thing.
-Yeah?
Her lawyer, Andrew Hinman,
married to Charlotte Hinman.
Quite the tight knit, well-to-do
social circle, isn't it?
Now, I have to ask,
has anyone interviewed you
since you were taken
into custody?
No.
Has anyone made you
sign anything?
Have you said anything
to the police
that I need to be made aware of,
when they brought you in?
Like what?
What are you suggesting?
It's just all a big blur, last
night. I don't remember much.
Jess, I'm here as your friend,
but I'm also your lawyer now.
I will protect you, but you have
to be completely honest with me.
Of course.
So, is there something
that you want to tell me?
Something you haven't
told anyone
..about what happened?
They weren't looking after her.
[bell ringing]
Anyway, I should get him in.
Fuck's sake, Rob.
Why did you rush them in?
-Oh, steady.
-I wanted to talk to Connor.
-I wanted to say goodbye.
-I'm sorry.
-You knew that!
-Sorry, I didn't see you.
-And I'm not a mind-reader.
-Why are you doing this?
Doing what?
What are you talking about?
-I'm really sorry about this.
-Sorry.
What are you talking about?
I've been waving the kids off
to school.
You know, it's really hard for
them not to feel abandoned,
yeah, when their mum's
just left them.
-You're punishing me.
-What?
All I'm doing is helping
our friends out for a few days.
Mel, you're my partner,
and I love you,
and I want you
to come home tonight,
or just don't fucking bother
coming back at all.
No, do you know what, Rob?
I'm not doing this anymore.
I've had enough!
Mel! Hey, Mel. Mel.
You're coming home with me.
Come on.
Come on.
-There you go, love.
-Thank you.
Nick.
There's gonna be
a clinical incident report
with my name on it,
and that is not good.
But what happened
isn't your fault.
And whatever
she's going through,
she's obviously not coping,
so
Yeah, and then I went
and made it worse.
I could have just put
a note on her file.
The minute she came into A&E
on Friday night,
I never gave her enough time.
You know, I was just focused
on the baby.
I was in work mode.
I didn't treat her
like a friend.
I treated her like a stranger.
I just think you're being
a little hard on yourself.
You know, if you're in
a safeguarding role,
you have to act.
So you would have done it?
Would I have called
social services on Jess?
Probably. I don't know.
It's hard. It's Jess.
Right?
How's the hangover?
I'm not I don't
It's bin day.
I found the bottle of prosecco.
Oh, don't start!
Honestly!
It's like my first drink
in three days!
Well done
on your remarkable restraint.
Yeah, thanks. Thank you.
I surprise myself sometimes.
Shouldn't you be at school?
It's careers morning.
I've got a free period.
You know, a whole bottle of
prosecco at midnight
is not nothing.
I'm sorry.
It won't happen again.
It will, until you realise that
you can't just have one drink.
All right.
Everybody's got their own
..unhealthy coping mechanisms,
haven't they?
-It's just, it's not every day.
-Yes, it is!
And I'm worried.
Mrs. Carrisford.
Great.
So there'll be a buzzing for
a couple of seconds,
and then we can start.
[buzzing sound]
Okay, Jess.
Tell us about
when you took Betsey.
Why did you do it?
Because I love her.
And I was worried about her.
But taking her away
meant you put her in danger.
I wasn't thinking.
I was trying to protect her.
I thought they were going to
take her away from me.
You grew up in the US,
-didn't you?
-Yes.
Somewhere without
a public health care system.
And you don't care for
our medical system?
I don't really trust doctors.
I don't think
they always know best.
And you don't like medicating
your children, is that right?
Not unless
it's strictly necessary.
And you don't believe in
vaccinating your children?
I believe vaccines are risky
and that drug companies
aren't always transparent.
But that's an informed choice.
That's hardly a crime.
Look, I know it's
an unpopular opinion, but
..I am trying to do
what's best for my children.
And to keep them safe, always.
And do you always try
to keep Betsey safe, Jess?
Of course I do.
That's what mothers do.
But you didn't keep her safe
on Friday, did you?
Yes, I did.
Well, then can you explain to me
why it took you over five hours
to bring her into the hospital?
Because I'm a bad mother.
I told you.
I didn't want to overreact.
I told you all of this already.
It didn't seem any more serious
than a tumble that my two boys
might have had
when they were toddlers.
-You're a bad mother?
-An evil mother?
My client has said
she didn't realise
the severity of the injury.
Yeah, but you didn't even
bring her in
after she'd been sick
in her cot.
That's a clear sign
of a concussion.
I didn't know
that she'd been sick.
-I was asleep.
-Right.
According to your husband,
you were in bed.
It had been quite a day,
and I was exhausted.
But if I had known
that she was sick or was crying,
of course I would have gone in.
I mean, I'm not a monster.
I'm not the mother
you think I am.
By all accounts, you're an
attentive mother, a good mother,
aren't you, Jess?
Yes.
Your children are always
well dressed and fed.
Look, there was nothing else
of any concern
on Betsey's skeletal survey.
And we've seen
the social media posts,
the happy kids
and the beautiful home.
Okay.
So what I'm struggling
to understand
is what happened that made you
dismiss Betsey's injuries
as something that didn't need
hospital attention.
Because an attentive mother
is always alert
to the possibility
of her baby waking up.
She doesn't just lie there
ignoring her baby.
-I was not ignoring her.
-My client has said
she was exhausted,
she fell asleep.
What does your husband think
of your relationship
with Betsey, Jess?
-What?
-Does Ed think
that you're bonded with Betsey?
Does he think you're in tune
with Betsey's needs?
I think so.
Isn't that what
you argued about?
Isn't that why he had to
come home Friday lunchtime
to check up on you?
Because he was concerned
about your relationship
with your daughter.
How does that make you feel?
Your husband coming home
to check up on you.
Does that make you feel angry?
So angry that you would
take it out on Betsey?
They think I'm a bad mother.
And Betsey is upstairs
screaming!
You're a bad mother.
You're an evil mother.
No!
Did you know that your husband
was so concerned
that he confided
in a female friend
minutes after leaving you
on Friday lunchtime?
What are you talking about?
Immediately after leaving you
on Friday, he and this friend,
they shared a few bottles
of wine in an intimate wine bar.
In fact, they spent the rest
of the afternoon together,
into the evening.
I don't know what you're saying.
-With who?
-Mrs. Charlotte Hinman.
Did you find out
about your husband's betrayal,
-and did it make you angry Jess?
-No.
So angry the next time
you were with Betsey,
you're changing her nappy,
maybe you're a bit brusque
with her, rough with her?
Maybe she just
wouldn't be quiet. Right?
You're distressed because Ed is
coming home to check up on you,
and you've just found out
that he is confiding
-in Charlotte Hinman.
-No!
You're frustrated.
You're exhausted.
These are a lot of emotions,
Jess.
-No!
-And Betsey will not be quiet.
Did you want to grip her
a bit harder?
Did you want to shake
some sense into her?
-No!
-You knew that you shouldn't
do it, but it's all getting
a bit much.
-You're a bad mother.
-Maybe it was accidental.
You're changing her nappy,
it's all getting a bit much,
and maybe you accidentally
grip her hard.
Did you want to shake her?
Shake some sense into her?
-No!
-Just bang her head, Jess.
[muted screaming]
No!
Sorry, I think my client
needs a moment.
Perhaps we could
..take a short break, please.
Okay.
[buzzing sound]
When our babies were tiny,
Jess became convinced that
they'd slept together at uni.
It became an obsession.
She worried
that Ed would find Charlotte
more attractive and leave.
We could all see
that Ed adored Jess
and Charlotte could only have
ever been a fling, at best.
Still nothing you could
ever tell me
about those two
would surprise me.
-Sorry.
-Everything all right, sir?
Can't believe Jess, of all
people, has been arrested.
I know.
Ed's devastated.
Andrew said the police
have been relentless,
and it's hard to imagine a jury
feeling any sympathy
for a mother
who's accused
of harming her baby.
But, Mel, we also need
to talk about
what just happened at school.
I don't understand.
Why is he being so vile to you?
He's lovely 80% of the time.
He just
He just doesn't like it
when I do something
he doesn't want me to do.
Like helping out
the Carrisfords.
He's really
secretive about money.
I never see any bills.
The house is in his name.
I have no idea
how much money we've got
-or haven't got.
-What?
And now he's withdrawn the
amount he gives me each month.
Wait, he gives you an allowance?
I don't think of it like that,
but
Look, since he was
made redundant --
Hold on. He was made redundant?
I thought he was striking out
on his own.
Yeah, well, that's what
he wants you to think.
But Ed never invested.
I don't know, Charlotte.
Every relationship has
its ups and downs.
Well, yes, I know it does.
But, Mel, this is extreme.
I'm not like you.
With your career, your
confidence, your determination.
I haven't worked
in over a decade.
I've no income, no savings.
He said if I ever try and leave
him, he'll take the kids.
I knew he was
a bit of a dick, but
I don't know how
you put up with it.
I mean, you can't be happy.
Are you happy all the time?
Well, no.
I mean, of course, everybody
knows marriage is hard, and
At least you've got
a good one in Andrew.
[buzzing noise]
So we'd like to talk about the
timeline Friday early evening,
specifically the time
between 6 and 6:30.
You told us that
once you'd returned home
from the school run, you
didn't leave the house again.
Kit was picked up for football
at 4:45,
but you didn't leave.
Is that still your recollection?
No comment, please, Jess.
Yes.
Now, as discussed, everyone
that we've spoken to
has described you
as a very attentive mother.
Would you agree with
that assessment?
Sorry, for the tape.
Yes.
You're not the sort of mother
who would leave
her young children
alone in the house?
I'm not that sort of mother, no.
And just to clarify, your stance
on medicating your children
is so firm that you would only
do so if strictly necessary.
You wouldn't even keep
children's paracetamol
in the house?
[Betsey crying]
Frankie!
[Betsey screaming]
God damn it!
[Jess screams]
-[screaming]
-Frankie!
I'm just trying to help.
-Please don't scream, Mummy.
-I'm just trying to help.
FRANKIE: Please don't scream.
FRANKIE: Please don't scream.
Don't scream, don't scream.
[Jess screaming] Stop crying!
I'm a bad mother.
A bad, bad mother.
There you go.
-Thank you.
-Bye-bye.
-See you.
-Bye.
-Hi. What can I get you?
-Hi.
Children's paracetamol please.
Is it for baby
or the older ones?
-The baby.
-Is she teething?
Peekaboo. Peekaboo!
Peekaboo!
[Betsey screaming]
Please don't scream!
There you go.
This footage shows you
in Superb Deli Stores
at 6:23 on the day
you brought Betsey to hospital.
You're purchasing children's
paracetamol
an hour after you said your
daughter sustained
a head injury.
I must object to this being
sprung on my client
without warning.
This is you in the footage yes?
DC FARRON: For the tape, please.
Yes.
You look distressed
in this recording.
That can't be deduced
from this image.
We also spoke to Jill Baker,
who dropped Kit off at 6:45.
She confirmed that you seemed
distressed, distracted.
Like you'd been crying.
Had you been crying, Jess?
Possibly.
Possibly?
Mm probably.
Something happened
to cause this distress.
What happened, Jess?
What happened that was so
distressing that you would leave
your ten-month-old baby and your
young son to go and buy medicine
that you would only use
if strictly necessary?
Medicine that was necessary,
because you knew
that Betsey was hurt.
Why would you leave them, Jess?
Did you leave them
after you did something
that you didn't intend?
After getting frustrated
and losing your temper?
Jess?
You leave them
because you hurt Betsey?
How did you fracture
her skull, Jess?
I didn't.
I didn't do it.
[buzzing sound]
Hello, sweetheart.
I missed you, too.
Oh! Hello!
You better keep your distance,
young man.
I'm not pleased with you
at all, at all.
-Are you coming home?
-Don't change the subject.
-You're never home.
-Hey, listen, I actually
came home to talk to you last
night about Frankie, but --
Hey, listen. Listen, you and I,
we're gonna have
a proper conversation
about all this.
You can't treat people like that
without serious consequences.
-Hiya.
-Where's Mummy?
She's busy with Betsey. But
have you seen Kit's cool cast?
-You okay?
-Yeah. Good.
I can take the kids
to Jess' for pizza.
Well, considering our son
was the one being attacked
yesterday,
I think we should probably
head off, don't you?
-Come on, you two. Come on.
-No, please, Dad.
-It's a play date. They're fine.
-Look, they've got homework.
Since when did you give a shit
about homework?
Well, one of us
has got to be responsible.
Mollie, Connor, in the car now.
Oh, just remember
what I said earlier, okay?
Tonight.
Come on, troops. Let's go home.
LIZ: Hi.
-Oh, hey.
How was work?
Yeah. No drama.
Apart from someone totally
trashed the boys' toilets.
Ew!
How was your day?
Yeah, it was good.
I spent the afternoon
googling symptoms actually,
went down a bit of a wormhole.
It still terrifies me
that doctors use Google.
I just
You know we all do it, right?
Go on then.
Okay, so I think Jess
is suffering from
a mental health disorder.
A postnatal anxiety. I found
this thing called perinatal OCD.
It's a form of
obsessive compulsive disorder,
but it's triggered
by the birth of a child.
In this case, Betsey.
I just think it would explain
her behaviour
over the last few days and
..why she's not quite
the Jess we know.
What do you think I should do?
Well, I mean,
you have to tell Ed.
Not exactly
his favourite person right now.
Well, I mean
..I could come with you.
A bit of solidarity.
Thanks, but I just,
I don't think so.
Hey, hey.
If you think that this can help
Jess, then you have to try.
Even if Ed
isn't your biggest fan.
Jess is what matters most.
Mm.
And I've been thinking about
what you said this morning.
Yeah?
Yeah, about the drinking.
And you're right.
And I do need to sort it out
and I will.
-That's really good, Frank.
CHARLOTTE: Okay.
-Pizzas are in.
-Thank you, Auntie Charlotte.
-Thanks, Auntie Charlotte.
-[doorbell ringing]
-The answer is 89.
-Sweet.
Well done. We'll do
the last one after dinner.
I already know the last one,
Dad.
-Go on.
-It's D.
LIZ: Hi.
-Hi.
Hi, guys. I just wanted to see
how you're getting on.
How's Jess?
Andrew said he'd call
if he had any news.
We should hear
in the next few hours.
I've, um
I've been doing some reading,
and I think that Jess
is suffering from a thing
called perinatal OCD.
All right, go on.
It manifests itself in, like,
compulsive behaviour,
like obsessing over whether
your children are safe,
or compulsive cleaning,
to manage your thoughts.
For how long?
Probably since Betsey was born.
She might have been trying
to keep control ever since then.
But does this make her
more or less guilty?
I don't know, Ed.
She's not my patient.
Yeah, right.
Do you think that she could have
actually hurt Betsey?
I'd like to remind you that
my client has been in custody
for 20 hours at this point.
She has a family
and a sick child.
She's been extremely
cooperative.
DC Farron and I
are in agreement.
We'll be referring the case to
the Crown Prosecution Service.
Then I insist Jess is released
on pre-charge bail immediately.
FRANKIE: Don't scream!
Don't scream! Don't scream!
JESS: Stop crying!
[Betsey crying]
Mrs. Carrisford?
Mrs. Carrisford,
did you hear me?
While we continue investigating
Betsey's skull fracture,
we feel we have sufficient
evidence to convince the CPS
to charge you
with child abduction
and child endangerment.
[Betsey screaming]
Mum!
Mummy?
DC FARRON: In the morning,
you'll be taken in a police van
to the magistrate's court
for your first appearance,
where the court will decide
if you should get bail.
JESS: I am a bad mother.
A bad, bad mother.
FRANKIE: Mum's a bit upset.
Mummy's a bit upset.
-Mummy's a bit upset.
-[Betsey continues crying]
Oh, Betsey!
Did you do a smelly poo?
Oh, it's okay.
Mummy will be back in a minute.
[doorbell ringing]